Method for assembling footwear uppers



I March 31, 1931. E. 1 PATTEN 1,798,626A

METHOD. FOR ASSEMBLING FOOTWEAR UPPERS Original Filed Sept. 15, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 3l, 1931. E. 1 PATTEN METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING FOOTWEAR UPPERS Original Filed Sept. 13, 1927 y4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. L. PATTEN METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING FOOTWEAR UPPERS March 3l, 1931.

Original Filed Sept. 13, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet '5 /A/VE/VTOR 55702667* L. Paf/eu 'A fr0/WYE v March 3l, 1931. E, PATTEN 1,798,626 I METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING FOOTWEAR UPPERS Original Filed Sept. l5, 1927 4 Sheets-Shea?I 4 l Zwan/ Patented Mar. 31, 1931 n. erre ERNEST L. PATTEN, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTCUT,V ASSIGNOR T0 L. CANDEE COM- PANY, OF NEV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,- A CORPORATIGN 0F CONNECTIC UTvv METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING FOOTWEAR UPPERS Original application Ied September 13, 1927, Serial No. 219,223.` Divided and thisiapplicaton filed'ApriL zo, 192e.

This invention relates to a method ofbuilding or assembling variously shaped articles from flat sheets of material, and in particular' which is now Patent No. 1,714,618, issued' May 2S, 1929;

1t has been customary in the building of bootlegs to appiy' manually the separate plies of material in succession by stretching the plies aboutthe leg of the last and sealing the margins of the individual plies by pressure manually applied. rThe successive plies havel heretofore been united in a unit by pressure applied to the surface of the lasted plies by manually operated rollers which causes the Such a laborv and therefore is costly. In addition theproduct obtained by this method has been unsatisfactory due to the lack of uniform ady hesion between the successive plies of mateA rialV andv also due to a lack of satisfactory union at the margins of the various plies. due to thefallibiiity of human workmanship.

It is the object ofthis invention to. provide a method for assembling boot legs more rapidly and in such a manner as to produce a. superior product and at the same time reduce the cost of building boot legs as comparedwith the practice heretofore.

The method of this invention involves makingl the boot leg in the fiat by superposing the plies of material whichgo into the make-up of the boot leg to form a flat blank. rllhel fiatl blank is wrapped about the boot tree either by motion of the material relative to the last or by combined motion of both the blank of the material and the last. This step is effected by gripping the blanlr ofthe material adjacent the corners thereof and wrapping the slab ofmaterial about thelast while at the` same time applying a tension longitudinally of the leg so as to stretch the material about'the tree and eliminate the possibil# ity` of any wrinkles being formed therein.

`The next step in this method isto press one margin of the material along its entire length serial No. 356,679.

into Contact with the boot tree andi While maintaining that pressure to overlap andi pressthe opposite margin of the blank along, its entire length into contact with the first' mentioned margin. This operationstretches the blank in a transverse direction while it is, at the same time, under longitudinal ten`v sion. PressureV it then removed. from the underlying margin of the Amaterial and the top margin is finally pressed' androlledinto intimate kcontact with the underlying margin so as to adhesively unite the two margins.

During the last pressing operation the longitudinal tension on the material is released inl order that the final pressing operation may bring the boot leg to itslinal form.

@ne form ofmachine capablev of carrying,V out this method is desci'ibedin the, follow!- ing detailed description and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein.:

Figll is a partly broken away plan View of the entire machine;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine at the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a section through the machine upon the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the push fingers and sealing rolls;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view; off the clampY members for holding the heel of the boot free showinothe .closing means;

Fig. ti' is a side View of vone of the grip lingers showing the closing means; Y

Fig. 8 is a detail-section showing the relation ofthe toe block to the work tables and i the brace 3 at each end of themachine, con.v stitute runways in which the frame slidesV 6 and 25A are adapted to have vertical reciproeating movement.

A boot tree frame isw nel iee

formed by the two U-beams 7 which extend transversely between the frame slides and are secured thereto by suitable bolts.

Power is transmitted to the machine from a motor 7a to a speed reduction unit 8 (Fig. 4) which drives a cam shaft 9 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 10 which are supported by the braces 3. The clutch mechanism for transmitting power from the speed reduction unit to the shaft 9 includes a bracket 11 which kis supported by the base 4 and carries a collar 12 which encircles the shaft 9. Collar 12 is provided with a notch which is designed to be intermittently engaged by a lug 13 carried by a sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is normally pulled toward collar 12 by a spring (not shown) so that the lug 13 meshes with the notch of the collar 12. The sleeve 14 is non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 9 with provision for longitudinal sliding movement. The sleeve 14 is provided with teeth 15 which are adapted to mesh with teeth on the drive wheel of the speed reduction unit. A groove positioned in the outer surface of the sleeve 14 is adapted to be engaged by rolls carried by a yoke 16 which is rigidly secured at its base upon a shaft 1?. The shaft is rotatably carried in supports 18 and 19 and is actuated by means of a treadle 2O through a system of levers 20. Actuation and release of the treadle causes the sleeve 14 tov be drawn into engagement with the speed reduction unit whereby the shaft 9 is rotated for one revolution until the lug 13 is brought opposite the notch in the collar 12 permitting .disengagement of the clutch mechanism. A complete cycle of operations of the boot assembling machine occurs during one rotation of the shaft 9.

- The blank is to be assembled upon a form or boot tree 21 which is supported in an approximately horizontal position at Vthe upper part of the machine. At its top end it is held by a locating plug 22 having a rounded end adapted to engage an opening in the end of the boot tree. rhe boot tree is adapted to bear against' the collar V23 of the locating plug, which latter is supported upon a bracket 24 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a grooved runway of the boot tree frame slide 25. A locking pin 26 threaded in bracket 24 can be caused to bear against frame slide 25 to maintain the relative positions of bracket 24 and frame slide 25 fixed in adjusted position. The bracket carries a rack 27 at its lower end and is raised and lowered by means of a pinion 28 which engages the rack, the pinion being actuated as later described.

The toe of the boot tree is supported by the following elements. The U-beams 7 constituting the boot tree frame carry bolted thereto a bracket 35. The bracket is provided with an opening through which an elevating rod 36 is adapted t-o pass. The enlarged head 36a of the elevating rod carries a grooved locating block 45, and the rod 36 is provided with a rack 37 upon its surface which is engaged by a pinion 38 which is rigidly carried upon a spindle 39 which latter passes through the bracket 35 and is rotatably supported thereby. The spindle also rigidly carries the pinion 28. An end of the spindle extends through the frame slide 6 and through a vertically extending slot 40 in the beam 5. An arm 41 is mounted rigidly upon the spindle39 and carries a handle 42 for manually turning the spindle. A spring pressed ydetent 43 extends through the arm 41 and is adapted to engage a plurality of recesses in a dial 44 which extends through the slot 40 and is rigidly mounted upon the frame slide 6. It is to be noted that the various sized boot trees are of the same length but vary in their other dimensions. Consequently if a small size boot leg is to be made, in order to present it at the right level to tables to be hereinafter described, the locating plug 22 and locating block 45 must be elevated with respect to the boot tree frame, andV if a large size boot leg is to be made, these elements must be lowered. The dial 44 is suitably marked to designate which particular recess the detent 43 should engage for each size boot tree.

Lateral movement of the locating block 45 with respect to the head 36a is permitted for adjustment purposes by providing it with a tongue which ts slidably in a groove in the head. Head 36a carries a bracket 46 (see F ig. 1) which by means of a pin 47 supports a hand lever 48 for pivotal movement thereon.V Lever 48 is pivotally connected to a link 49 which in turn is pivotally attached to one end of a link 50, the other end of which is attached -to the locating block 45. The locating block is provided with a groove in its upper surface extending longitudinally thereof, into which the toe of the boot tree can be fitted.

The heel of the boot tree is supported by a pair of clamp members 51 which are pivotally mounted by means of bolts 52 and spacer plate 53 upon the slide element 54. Slide element 54 is provided with a tongue which slidably engages a groove in the bracket 55, the latter being rigidly carried upon the beams 7. The clamp members 51 are curved upwardly (Fig. 2) so as to grip the upper portion of the boot tree heel, and are provided with rearwardly extending arms at the vopposite side of their pivot points carrying rolls 56 which are adapted to be engaged by the wedge shaped block 5'?. This block is supported on hand lever 58 which is pivoted to the bracket 55 by means of pintle 59. A bolt 109 projects rearwardly from and is pivoted to a bottom lug on the slide elements 54, said bolt extending through an opening in lever 58 (Fig. 6). The bolt carries a spring 110, the opposite ends of which rest against lever 58 andslide elements 54. In operating the clamp members to grip a boot tree, the block 57 is first in withdrawn position, with the rolls 56 drawn toward each other by the spring 111. The slide element 54 is at the extreme outer portion of its path of travel. Raising the handle 58 causes the same to pivot and the slideelement54 is pushed forwardly by the spring 110 until the clamp members 51 are` in position to grip the heel. Slide element54 then meets a stop 54a carried by the bracket 55 and continued elevation of the handle 58 forces the wedge block 57 against the pressure of the spring 110 between the rolls 56, spreading them apart and closing the clamp members 51 upon the boot tree. vSuitable latching means actuated` by the handle 112 are provided for holding the lever in its adjusted position.

Vert-ical reciprocation of the boot tree frame is effected by means of cams 60 which are rigidly mounted upon the shaft 9, said cams being provided with grooved cam surfaces which are engaged by the cam followers 61 of the levers 62. .Each of levers 62 is pivotally secured to a brace 3 at one end and at its other end is pivotally attached to a link 63 by means of a pin 6'4 (Fig. 3). Link 63 is pivotally attached by a pin 65 to a lever 66 which has pivotal engagement at one end with the frame 1 andat its opposite end has pivotal engagement with the connecting link 67, said link 67 being pivotally secured to its frame slide 6 or 25. The cam is so arranged that the frame slide will be lowered and raised during one complete operation of encasing aV form with a blank. ,Springs 67 a are secured at one end to pins 67?) (Fig. 1) extending from the frame 1 and at their opposite end are attached to the levers 66 tol aid in counterbalancing the weight of the boot tree frame.

The supports for the blank which is to be assembled around the boot tree comprise the tables 68, 69 and 70. The blank is designed to be positioned upon these tables lying underneath the boot tree with its side margins resting upon the tables 69 and 70. The table 68 must be adjusted vertically for different size boot legs. It is supported by a bracket 71 which is carried by the head 36a. The bracket 71 is provided with a fiange 72 at one end thereof to which an arm 7 3 is secured for vertical adjustable movement by means of a bolt 74 which has screw threaded engagement with the flange 72. Bracket 71 and arm 73 are provided with slots through which a bolt 75 passes which is utilized for locking the adjustment. The table 68 is pivotally secured upon the arm 7 3 by means of a in 76. A slot is provided in the end of the table so that the foot of the tree can rest against the Walls of the slot and be supported l thereby.

Locating pieces 77 a' are so positioned upon p the tables 69 and 70 at the foot endrof the machine that the blank will be properly positioned longitudinally when its ends abut against them.

Y Slots 78 are provided inthe work tables 69 and 7 O in order to make room for pairs of gripY fingers to be now described. These pairs of grip fingers are provided for grasp;-u ing the top and bottom margins of the blank and for drawing the blank around the boot tree'. As the pairs of grip fingersfor the top' and bottom margins are identical but one pair will be described. Eachgrip finger is carried upon a finger shaft 80 which latter is mounted for bothV longitudinal and rotary movement in bearings 81 which are rigidly `secured upon the frame 1. Forward longitudinal movement of the shaft 80 is limited by acol lar 82.k The shaft carries rotatably a jcollar 83 (Figs. 7 and 9) from which there extends the arm 84 upon which one toothed jaw 85 of the grip linger .is rigidlysecured.l jThe cooperating toothed jaw 86 of the grip finger is rigidly carried by a pin 87 which is rotatably mounted in the arm 84. The pin,87 carries rigidly thereon a cam follower 88 which is adapted to be actuated to close the jawsby means of av cam pin 89 which passes slidablyv through the arm 84 and is rigidly attached at one end to a .collar 90 of the sleeve 91. Sleeve 91 is loosely mounted on the shaft 80. A spring 92 positioned around the shaft 80 bears against the collars 83 and 90 and nor* mally maintains the sleeve 91 pressed rearwardly so that the aws can be opened by the spring 92a. It willV be noted that in the operation of causing the grip fingers to grip the blank they are first moved forwardlyV with the finger shaft 80 by virtue of the resistance of spring 92 to the force applied through the sleeve 91, therebyV bringing the grip' fingers to a position in which the jaws are positioned on opposite sides of the blank. When the collars 82 abut against the bearings81, forward movement is stopped. The jaws can now grip the blank and this is accomplished by the yielding of the spring 92 permitting' the sleeve 91 to move longitudinally on shaft 8O whereby the cam pin is caused to actuate the cam lugv 88, thereby closing the jaws off,

the grip fingers. Actuation of the sleeve 91 is effected through the yoke arm 93,1 .which is provided at one end with rolls which engage in the' groove of the sleeve 91,'v and which is pivoted to a pin 94 carriedy upon the bracket 95 extending from the frame 1 A link 96 connects* the other end of yoke 93 with a link 97 which in turn is pivo'tally connected to an positioned at the same elevation.

arm 98 rigidly affixed upon a shaft 99 (Fig. 1 and 8), the latter being lmounted for rotation in suitable bearings 100 which are rigidly carried by the frame 1. A. lever arm 101 is rigidly attached to the shaft 99 at one end and at the other end is pivotally connected to a connecting rod 102 (Fig. 3) The connecting rod is pivotally connected to link 103 which latter is pivoted to a cam lever 104. Cam lever 104 is pivotally carried interinediate its ends by the support 104: and at the opposite end thereof carries a cam follower 105 which is adapted to travel in the groove of a cam 106 which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 9.

After gripping the margins of the blank, the grip fingers are caused to pass upwardly in rotary movement about the shafts 80 in order to fold the blank around the boot tree which at the same time is lowered, as shown diagrammatically in F ig. 8.` The frame slides 6 and 25 carry racks 107 projecting from the upper sections thereof which engage the pinions 108 slidably keyed on the finger shafts 80 and as the frame slides are passed downwardly the shafts 80 with the grip fingers are forced in rotary movement wrapping the top and bottom edges of the blank about the boot tree. It will be noted that the shafts 80 of each pair of grip fingers at the top and bottom margins of the blank point diagonally inwardly toward each other so that the paths Vof travel of the grip fingers at the top and bottom edges of the blank diverge during the wrapping operation. By this operation the blank is placed under tension longitudinally.

Means are provided for overlapping the side margins of the blank as follows: The pair of grip fingers which cooperate with the work table 69 are to be passed to their position over the boot tree 21 in advance of the pair of grip fingers which cooperate with the work table 70. In the preferred manner of securing this result, the grip fingers which cooperate with table 69 are initially considerably advanced in their rotary movement so that they carry the margin of the blank from table 69 and position the same upon the boot tree before the opposite pair of grip fingers can bring the margin of the blank from table to a position in which it can contact with and adhere to the first mentioned margin. This feature is desirable because of the tackiness of the rubber composition of the blank which causes the margins thereof to adhere on coming in contact. All four grip finger shafts are The pinions 108 -on the shafts 80 of the grip fingers which cooperate with the work table 69 are advanced in their rotation to the extent of three teeth, as compared with the pinions of the other pair of grip fingers. Vorktable 69 is elevated and disposed at an angle so that its cooperating grip fingers in their initial position can graspthe blanks carried thereon. All four grip finger shafts make a half revolution in the operation of folding the blankaround the boot tree. The pair of grip fingers which cooperates with the work table 69 will be passed from this table and will engage with the boot tree before the grip finger shafts 80 upon which they are mounted have ceased their one-half of a revolution. In order that this pair of grip fingers may not halt movement vof shafts 80-upon engagin the uper surface of the tree, the following arrangement is provided. The collar 83 is loosely mounted upon the grip finger shaft 80, being held in position thereon by means of a shoulder 80a carried by the grip finger shaft. A spring 805 is rigidly secured at one end of the grip finger shaft 80 and at its opposite end bears against a portion of the jaw 85. Rotation of the collar 83 is effected from the grip finger shaft 80 through the spring 80?). The collar 83 With arm 8a passes upwardly around the shaft 80 by force of the spring 805 to a position vertically upon the shaft and upon passing downwardly would drop by force of gravity into position over the boot tree except that an arm 80o projects rigidly from the shoulder 80a which is adapted to bear against a projection 80d which extends from the `collar 83. The grip fingers are held firmly against the boot tree 21 by the springs 80?) While the grip finger shafts 80 complete their onehalf revolution and due to the flexibility of the springs, sufficient lost motion is provided so that the grip fingers will not halt rotation of shafts 80. The half revolution of the shafts 80 is sufficient to cause the pair of grip fingers which cooperate with table 70 to bring the margin of the blank therefrom to a position overlying the boot tree. In this pair of grip fingers the collar 83 can be rigidly secured to shaft 80 if desired, and rotate therewith without lost motion. After completing theoperation of encasing the boot three with a blank, the grip finger shifts 80 are caused to rotate in the opposite direction by elevation of the frame slides 6 land 25 with the racks 107'carried thereby. This causes the arm 80o to engage with the projection 80d, thereby forcing the collar 83 and the attached grip fingers in rotary movement back to their initial position where the grip fingers are in readiness to grip a new blank positioned upon the work tables.

The grip finger mechanism can bek modified, if desired, so that the opposite pairs of grip fingers 'will be brought into overlapping relation in other ways, for example, one of the work tables can be elevatedwith respect to the other and the shafts 80 of the grip fingers'which cooperate therewith can also be elevated so that the pinions carried by these shafts are elevated with respect to the other Vpinions the extent of one tooth upon the racks 107. As a result, the grip fingers from :the lopposite work tables will clear each otherupon being passed to overlapped position over the boot tree. Y

After lowering-theboot tree and wrapping the blank therearound, push fingers are forced against the underlying side margin of the blank, which push lingers serve to draw the blank tightlyfaround the boot tree. A plurality of the push flngersare provided which extend l'the length'ofthe blanks VThey comprise an arm 119v having a forked end lin which is pivoted an arm 120 on pin 121. (Figs. 1 and 5.) A shoulder 122upon the arm l120 is adapted to bear against the base of the fork, which therefore limits its downward Vpivotal movement. A spring 123is secured to the arm 119 and is adapted to rest against the upper surface of the 'arm 120, holding the same inposition by Va yielding pressure. l thereto ka spring member, which spring member is provided 4with a forwardly eX- tending arm 125`bounded at each side by shorter arms 126. These .arms can be suitably modified to conform to the shape of the boot tree 'and it will be .noted that the push finger adjacent the top end of the boot` tree is provided with a plurality of the shorter arms 126. These push fingers are rigidly supported 'in spaced relation upona shaft 127 which in turn is mounted for rotation in levers 128. Levers 128 are rigidly affixed to a shaft`129 which is rotatably mounted in suitablebearings ksupported by 4brackets 95. Lever 130 is rigidly aflixed to the shaft 129 at one end andy at its other end has a pivotal.

connection with the connecting rod 131. Connecting rod1131 is pivotally attached to a cam lever 132, which latter is 'pivotally supported adjacent its middle portion upon a support 133 and at its opposite end car-l ries a cam follower 133m which Yis adapted to be actuated bythe cam 134 on cam shaft 9. The connecting rod. 131 is provided with a turnbuckle 135. for purposes ofadjustment. Upon rotation of the cam 134 the, push fingers will be moved forwardly into engagement with the underlying margin ofthe blank. In order to secure a downwardy pressure .upon the push fingers of, suitable strength so as to vtightly draw the blank about the boot tree, there..have been provi'dedthe following elements. A cam 136 rigidly' mounted upon the shaft 9 engages a cam follower. 137 mounted upon one end of the cam lever 138.

upon al support 139 betweenits ends andat The arm 120 has secured Cam lever 138 is 4pivotedY similarly to the rod 131, in order tov provide for adjustments. Rotation of the cams 134 and 136 produces a compound movement of the push fingers in that as the push ngers are vforced forwardly by the cam 134, they are-at the same time given a downwardpressure through rotationofthe cam 136. This movement 1 of the push fingers insures va positive grip upon the margin ofthe blank so that -it is drawn positively around the boot tree with considerable force, the ends of the overlying margins being held by the grip fingers. Y

Having -placed'the blank around the boot tree in a tightly drawn position, 'the neXt step is lto seal the seam formed by the overlapped margins thereofand this is accomplished -by means of the two sets of sealing lrolls'142 and 143. A pair of these rolls is carried by each of a plurality of fingers vwhich'aremounted adjacent the" boot tree extending the length seY ofthe blank. Each vroll nger is comprised Y the upper surface of the Varm'145, therebyforcing the latter downwardly with a yielding pressure. The arm carries a'primary sealing roll 142 which :is mounted for rotation upon thepin 148 which extends through the end of the arm 145. These sealing rolls 142 are preferably slightly tapered, as shown:

inlT-ig. 1, and somewhat varied in size and shape in order to conform to the contour of the boot tree. The arm 145 ycarries projecting from the body thereof an extension 149. This extension is provided with a hole through which one end of the formed supporting member 150 for the secondary sealing roll 143 passes. Sealing roll'143 is mounted for rotary movement upon a pin 151 which is secured in the forks of the supporting member 150. Supporting member 150 is provided with a pin 152 which projects outwardly through a rslot in the extension 149,'fsaid .slot being of sufficient length to permit limited rotarymovement of the supporting member 150. Member 150 is secured in 'position by a nut 153. Limited rotary-movement of the supporting member 15() permits the secondary sealingv roll 143 to readily'adjust itself .to the contour of the boot tree. The roll fingers are rigidly mountedin spaced relation upon a shaft 154 and said shaft 154 is actuated by levers 155 pivotally connected thereto. Levers 155 are rigidlyafhxedto a shaft 156 which is rotatably. .mounted in suitable bearings-supported by brackets 95. Lever is rigidly affixed to the shaft 156a't one endpand at its other'end has pivotal eouueeticn'with acum necting` rod 160 (Fig. 4). The vconnecting rod is pivotally attached to one end of a cam lever 161 which is pivotally supported adjacent its middle portion and carries a cam follower adapted to engage and be actuated by the cam 157. Upon rotation of the cam 157 the roll fingers are moved forwardly into engagement with the blank. Downward pressure of the roll fingers upon the blank is secured through the following elements. One end of a lever 161 is rigidly alliXed to shaft 154 andthe other end is pivotally attached to connecting rod 162. Rod 162 is pivotally connected to one end of a cam Vlever 162 which is pivotally supported adjacent its middle portion and carries at its opposite end a cam follower which is engaged by the cam 158. Rotation of the cams 157 and 158 produces a compound movement of the rolllingers in that as the roll fingers are forced forwardly by cam 157 they are forced downwardly by cam 158. The relative position of the push fingers and sealing rolls at the time when the primary sealing rolls 142 are functioning to seal the overlapped margins of the blank is shown in Fig. 5. In this position, the primary sealing rolls have passed between the forwardly extending arms 125 of the spring members to a position in which they just clear the ends of the shorter arms 126. In this position they press spaced portions of the overlapped margins together. The push lingers are now withdrawn and at the same time the roll fingers are pressed further forwardly and downwardly so that the secondary sealing rolls148 press against the upper surface of the boot leg with considerable force, completing the sealing of the lapped margins. Before the secondary sealing rolls can move forwardly the grip lingers must be withdrawn. The cams 106 are so arranged that the grip lingers release their grip upon the top and bottom margins of the boot leg and are drawn longitudinally out of the way before the secondary sealing rolls 143 pass across the overlapped margins. Having accomplished the sealing operation, the roll gers are withdrawn-.to their original position. l

During this forward and rearward movement of the push lingers and roll lingers, their paths of travel normally take them across the plane'of the work tables 69 and 70 necessarily pivoting the latter on their shafts 7 6a. In order to remove the resulting strain upon the push fingers and roll lingers, the tables 69 and 7 O have each been provided with cam surfaces 165 (Fig. 8). vThese cam surfaces are designed to be engaged by a cam roll 166 carried by each of arms 167 which are rigidly mounted upon the levers 128 and 155 respectively. As the push fingers and roll lingers move forwardly to a position over the upper surface of the boot tree, the tables y69 and are pushed upwardly out of thehway by the rolls 166.

Operation/ At the beginning of the operation ofthe machine the lvarious elements thereof are in the positions illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with the boot tree frame 7 'at the upper portion of its path of travel and with the grip lingers pointed laterally away from the boot tree. A blank which is to constitute the boot leg is assembled as a liat pieceV out of suitable strips of rubber composition and rubberized fabric cut to the proper size and shape. Other materials can be used if desired such as leather, fabric, etc. The blank is positioned upon the machine with its side margins resting upon the work tables 69 and 70 and its middle portion resting upon the table 68. The boot leg is accurately positioned manually by causing the edges thereof to contact with the locating pieces 77 and 7 7 al The boot tree is placed in position upon the frame 7 with its top fitted to the locating .plug 22, the toe positioned inthe groove of the loeating block 45 andthe clamps 51 moved to grip the heel. The locating block and locating plug are first adjusted to their proper positions for the particular size of boot tree used. The clutchmechanism is thrown into engagement so as to cause the cam shaft 9 to rotate for one complete revolution, during which the operation of wrapping the blank about the boot tree is effected. The grip fingers move forwardly into the slots 78 in the work tables 69 andv 70, grip the top and bottom margins of the blank and at once-begin-their paths of travel about the shafts 8O asaXes. At the same time the boot tree 21-is lowered from its upper to its lower position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. As the boot tree reaches its lowermost position, the grip fingers close in over its upper surface folding the blank around the tree and overlapping the side margins thereof at the top of the tree. The push lingers press forwardly against the blank adjacent the inner margin of the same before the outer margin is brought near enough to contact with and adhere thereto, pressing it tightly against the boot tree and drawing it around the tree with considerablev pressure. The roll fingers now move forwardly and the primary sealing rolls 142 press against the upper layer of the blank between the ends of thepush fingers. These rolls hold the overlapped ends in position while the push fingers are -withdrawn after which the secondary sealing rolls` arrivein position to press against the seam, smoothing the sanne'v and lirmly vuniting the margins by pressure. Prior to functioning of the secondary sealing rolls `in this manner, the grip lingers release their grip upon the corners of the boot leg and are drawn backward out of the path of the secondary sealing rolls. The secondary sealing rolls are then withdrawn, the boot tree elevated to its original position and the grip fingers are rotated about the iinger shafts 8O as an axes to positions ready to begin the assembling operation anew. The boot tree can noW be removed from the machine.

While the invention has been particularly described as applied to the. encasing of a boot tree with a blank which is to constitute a boot leg, it will be understood that it is applicable also to the encasing of any article with a flexible coating. The coating used need not be formed of rubber composition or rubber impregnated fabric but can be made vof any flexible material such as leather, fabric, etc. It will be understood if a material is used which is not inherently tacky or adhesive in itself, that a suitable cement can be applied to the overlapped margins which it is desired to seal, after which the sealing rolls can be actuated to close the seam.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of assembling a footwear upper which comprises encircling a form with a blank, overlapping the side margins of the blank, tensioning the overlapped margins in a direction along the overlap and pressing the overlapped margins together.

2. The method of assembling a footwear upper which comprises encircling a form with a blank, overlapping the side margins of the blank, tensioning the overlapped margins in a direction along the overlap, tightening the blank around the form, and pressing the overlapped margins together.

3. The method of assembling a footwear upper which comprises drawing opposite margins of a bla-nk around a form by the eX- ercise of combined transverse and longitudinal forces upon the same until the edges overlap, the transverse forces acting to tension the blank at the overlap in a direction along the overlap, and pressing the overlapped margins together.

4. In the art of manufacturing footwear, the steps of pressing flat sheets of material together to form a flat multi-ply blank, wrapping the blank about a last in a manner such as to bring the ends of the blank into juxtaposed position, tensioning the blank along the margins of the juxtaposed ends, applying tension tending to bring the juxtaposed ends into overlapping relation, pressing the margins of the juxtaposed ends together, releasing the tension along the margins, and simultaneously rolling the margins into intimate contact and releasing the tension tending to bring the juxtaposed ends into overlapping relation.

Signed at New Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this 17th day of April, 1929.

ERNEST L. PATTEN. 

